OBJECTIVE: The goal of our study is to investigate the contribution of the 13 single-nucleotide polymorphisms to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn\'s disease (CD) and Ulcerative colitis (UC).
METHODS: A total of 44 articles were retrieved from bibliographic databases including PubMed, Embase, SpingerLink, Web of Science, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang. Through a comprehensive filtering procedure, 13 single-nucleotide polymorphisms were collected in the meta-analysis, which was done by Review Manager 5.0.
RESULTS: After a systematic filtration, there were 13 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 44 articles involved in our meta-analysis. Our results demonstrated that 3 SNPs were found to be significantly associated with CD/UC/IBD: IRF5 rs4728142 (UC: OR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.09-1.35, P = 0.0003; OR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.08-1.57, P = 0.006 in Asian), PTGER4 rs4613763 (CD: the overall OR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.01-1.64, P = 0.04; IBD: OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.04-1.65, P = 0.02), IL12B rs6887695 (CD: the overall OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.06-1.30, P = 0.002; UC: the overall OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.01-1.26, P = 0.03; IBD: the overall OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.06-1.24, P = 0.0009).
CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analyses have indicated the significant associations between SNPs (IRF5 rs4728142, PTGER4 rs4613763, and IL12B rs6887695) and CD/UC/IBD.

BACKGROUND: Prostaglandins and their G-protein-coupled receptors play numerous physiological and pathophysiological roles, especially in inflammation and its resolution. The variety of effects mediated by prostanoids makes prostanoid receptors valuable drug targets and the research on prostaglandin receptor modulators is intensive. The physiological and pathophysiological effects of prostaglandin E(2) are especially complex and numerous. The four subtypes of EP receptor have gained a lot of industrial and academic interest, in particular EP(2) and EP(4) for various indications.
METHODS: Evaluation of the patent activity over the last decade (2002 - 2012) illustrates several potent compounds targeting the distinct prostaglandin E(2) receptors. Many novel methods for the use of EP receptor modulators have been developed, in addition to the classical indications for agents modulating the arachidonic acid cascade such as pain and inflammation.
CONCLUSIONS: Several EP targeting agents with good potency and selectivity have been developed but their pharmacological use and utility has not yet been satisfactorily investigated. More research is necessary, and clinical use of these agents might therefore take some more time.